New Codes of Competitiveness in the Automotive Supply Industry: TAYSAD 5.0 – Agile, Resilient, and Competitive

The 47th Ordinary General Assembly of the Automotive Suppliers Association of Türkiye (TAYSAD), the umbrella organization of the Turkish automotive supply industry, was held with the participation of Deputy Minister of Industry and Technology Dr. Çetin Ali Dönmez and Governor of Kocaeli İlhami Aktaş. The meeting, which brought together representatives from the public sector, academia, non-governmental organizations, former chairpersons of the board, the current board members, and association members, took place at the TOSB Conference Hall.

In his speech, Deputy Minister Dr. Çetin Ali Dönmez emphasized the strategic role of the automotive supply industry in Türkiye’s industrial production and exports. TAYSAD Chairman of the Board Yakup Birinci highlighted the importance of collaboration in strengthening the sector’s competitiveness during its transformation process. Within the scope of the meeting, awards were presented to members who achieved outstanding performance in categories such as the highest number of patent registrations, highest exports, highest export growth rate compared to the previous year, greatest contribution to TAYSAD training programs, and highest participation in joint procurement projects. Additionally, three companies participating in TAYSAD’s corporate social responsibility initiative, “Equalize Opportunities, Diversify Talent,” were honored with special recognition awards.

Bringing together its members and stakeholders in the first quarter of 2026, TAYSAD once again underscored the strategic importance of the automotive industry for the national economy. Dr. Dönmez stated that the automotive sector, with its production strength, technological capability, and export capacity, is one of the most critical industries, supported fundamentally by a strong supplier base. He also noted that efforts are ongoing to accelerate alignment with European Union regulations to maintain the competitiveness of both OEMs and suppliers.

Pointing to the multi-dimensional global transformation of the sector, Dr. Dönmez underlined that electrification, digitalization, sustainability, carbon footprint management, and supply chain security are the key drivers of the new era. He emphasized that countries capable of developing an integrated approach across design, engineering, production, and supply infrastructure will maintain their competitive edge.

Dr. Dönmez also stressed the importance of ensuring that automotive products manufactured in Türkiye are evaluated under the same standards as those in the European Union. Referring to the European Industry Acceleration Act, he highlighted the need for strong public-private collaboration to clarify Türkiye’s position in this evolving landscape. He further noted that technology and innovation investments will be decisive for the sector’s future, citing the USD 25 million Mobility Technologies Fund, established under TAYSAD’s leadership in collaboration with Fark Labs and Boğaziçi Ventures, as a significant step forward.

TAYSAD Chairman Yakup Birinci emphasized the importance of being agile, resilient, and competitive for the automotive supply industry. He stated that since taking office, the board has focused on adapting to changing global dynamics, defining their vision as “TAYSAD 5.0: Agile, Resilient, Competitive.” Birinci highlighted that rapid decision-making and collective action are increasingly critical for gaining competitive advantage.

Noting that while production volumes remain strong, global shifts are underway with production and demand moving towards Asia, Birinci pointed out that the transformation in the European market presents significant opportunities. He stressed the importance of accurately interpreting these changes and strengthening positioning not only in Europe but also in alternative markets such as the United States.

Focusing on strengthening the domestic market, increasing production, and enhancing Türkiye’s attractiveness for investment, Birinci emphasized that production capacity remains critical for sustaining global competitiveness. He also highlighted the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market and intensifying global competition, particularly with the increasing presence of Chinese manufacturers. Birinci stated that Türkiye is at the beginning of a long-term transformation journey and expressed confidence that, through effective collaboration and determination, the sector can secure a strong global position.

Touching upon export performance, Birinci noted that the automotive and supply industries have maintained steady growth in dollar terms, with the supplier industry increasing its share of total exports. He concluded by emphasizing that the ongoing technological and structural transformation in the automotive industry must be turned into an opportunity through collaboration and collective action.

As part of the event, leading companies in the sector were recognized at TAYSAD’s traditional award ceremony. Tırsan Treyler San. ve Tic. A.Ş. ranked first in the category of highest number of patent registrations, followed by Bosch San. ve Tic. A.Ş. and Teknorot Otomotiv Ürünleri San. ve Tic. A.Ş. In the category of highest exports, Bosch ranked first, followed by OYAK Horse Makina Ekipmanları Tic. ve San. A.Ş. and CMS Jant ve Makina Sanayii A.Ş. Toyotetsu Otomotiv Parçaları San. ve Tic. A.Ş. led the category of highest export growth, followed by Siro Silk Road Temiz Enerji Depolama Teknolojileri San. ve Tic. A.Ş. and ZF CVS Turkey Fren Sistemleri San. ve Tic. Ltd. Şti.

In the category of highest contribution to TAYSAD training programs, İtameks Dış Ticaret ve Pazarlama A.Ş. ranked first, followed by Altan Hidrolik Mühendislik San. ve Tic. A.Ş. and SKT Yedek Parça Makina San. ve Tic. A.Ş. HP Pelzer Pimsa Otomotiv A.Ş. was recognized as the member with the highest participation in joint procurement projects. Additionally, İnci GS Yuasa, Sistem Teknik, and ZF CVS—participants in the fourth term of the “Equalize Opportunities, Diversify Talent” program—were presented with special recognition awards.